
Grover Cleveland: Top 9 Achievements
- Elected Sheriff of Erie County, New York ...
- 34 th Mayor of Buffalo ...
- Governor of New York ...
- Elected 22nd President of the United States ...
- Waged war against political corruption and the patronage system ...
- Helped secure the return of 81,000,000 acres of land ...
- Nominated four Justices to the U.S. Supreme Court ...
- 24th President of the United States ...
Full Answer
What did Grover Cleveland do as president?
Grover Cleveland, a two non-consecutive term President of the United States of America, was a New York-born lawyer who holds the record of being the first Democrat to occupy the White House after the American Civil War. His terms as president were characterized by fiscal conservatism.
What did Grover Cleveland do to fight corruption?
Cleveland became an active member of the Democratic Party in New York, making a name for himself while fighting against corruption. In 1882, he was elected as the mayor of Buffalo, and then the governor of New York. He made many enemies for his action against crime and dishonesty, and this would later hurt him when he came up for reelection.
How was Grover Cleveland a flourishing lawyer?
1. Grover Cleveland was a flourishing lawyer when he successfully defended a suit against the editor of a notable publishing house based in the city called Buffalo Commercial Advertiser. 2. When he was the mayor of the city, he had successfully reduced corruption at various levels. He used his veto power to dictate the norms for various auctions.
Where did Grover Cleveland grow up?
Grover Cleveland was born on March 18, 1837, in Caldwell, New Jersey. Although he moved around often in his youth, most of his upbringing was in New York. Known as an honest Democrat, he was both the 22nd and 24th President of the United States. Grover Cleveland grew up in New York.
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What did Grover Cleveland accomplish?
His crusade for political reform and fiscal conservatism made him an icon for American conservatives of the era. Cleveland won praise for his honesty, self-reliance, integrity, and commitment to the principles of classical liberalism. He fought political corruption, patronage, and bossism.
What major events happened while Grover Cleveland was president?
The Samoan crisis was the major foreign policy event of Cleveland's first term, and that crisis ended with a tripartite protectorate in the Samoan Islands. As his second presidency began, disaster hit the nation when the Panic of 1893 produced a severe national depression.
What did Grover Cleveland do for the Panic of 1893?
President Grover Cleveland was blamed for the depression. Gold reserves stored in the U.S. Treasury fell to a dangerously low level. This forced President Cleveland to borrow $65 million in gold from Wall Street banker J.P. Morgan and the Rothschild banking family of England.
What was Grover Cleveland's campaign?
The 1884 election was the first Presidential campaign in which Grover Cleveland participated and the first of two nonconsecutive terms that he won. This election pitted Grover Cleveland against James G. Blaine and the campaign for this election centered on corruption, civil service reforms, and scandals.
What is the summary of President Cleveland where are you?
Twelve-year-old Jerry must decide whether to use his collectible "Grover Cleveland" card to win a contest or sell the card so that his brother can take his girlfriend to the school dance.
Who are the 4 presidents assassinated?
American Presidential AssassinationsAbraham Lincoln. Shot: April 14, 1865. Died: April 15, 1865. Where: Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C. ... James Garfield. Shot: July 2, 1881. Died: September 19, 1881. ... William McKinley. Shot: September 6, 1901. Died: September 14, 1901. ... John F. Kennedy. Shot: November 22, 1963.
Who caused the Panic of 1893?
The Panic of 1893 was a national economic crisis set off by the collapse of two of the country's largest employers, the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad and the National Cordage Company. Following of the failure of these two companies, a panic erupted on the stock market.
Who was blamed for the panic of 1873?
Grant, Ulysses S. (1822-1885): America's eighteenth president (1869-1877), Grant received public blame for the panic of 1873. Johnson, Andrew (1808-1875): The seventeenth president (1865-1869), Johnson met with the National Labor Union to discuss eight-hour day legislation.
What was most responsible for causing the depression of 1893?
The Panic of 1893 was a depression set off by the failure of two of the largest employers in the country: The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad and the National Cordage Company. The stock market plummeted as businesses that had borrowed heavily to invest in railroads went bankrupt.
How did Cleveland win the election of 1892?
In a narrow first-ballot victory, Cleveland received 617.33 votes, barely 10 more than needed, to 114 for Hill, 103 for Governor Horace Boies of Iowa, a populist and former Republican, and the rest scattered.
Did Cleveland serve two terms?
The first Democrat elected after the Civil War in 1885, our 22nd and 24th President Grover Cleveland was the only President to leave the White House and return for a second term four years later (1885-1889 and 1893-1897).
Why did President Cleveland refuse to take over Hawaii?
Cleveland was an outspoken anti-imperialist and thought Americans had acted shamefully in Hawaii. He withdrew the annexation treaty from the Senate and ordered an investigation into potential wrongdoings. Cleveland aimed to restore Liliuokalani to her throne, but American public sentiment strongly favored annexation.
What major events happened in 1886?
October 28: Statue of Liberty dedicated.February 6–9 – Seattle riot of 1886: Anti-Chinese sentiments result in riots in Seattle, Washington.February 14 – The first train load of oranges leaves Los Angeles via the transcontinental railroad.March 17 – Carrollton Massacre: 20 African Americans are killed in Mississippi.More items...
How did President Cleveland react to what happened in Hawaii?
Cleveland was an outspoken anti-imperialist and thought Americans had acted shamefully in Hawaii. He withdrew the annexation treaty from the Senate and ordered an investigation into potential wrongdoings. Cleveland aimed to restore Liliuokalani to her throne, but American public sentiment strongly favored annexation.
How many bills did Grover Cleveland veto during his Presidency?
#PresidentTotal vetoes23Benjamin Harrison4424Grover Cleveland17025William McKinley4226Theodore Roosevelt8244 more rows
What was unique about the 1936 presidential election?
Roosevelt carried every state except Maine and Vermont, which together cast eight electoral votes. By winning 523 electoral votes, Roosevelt received 98.49% of the electoral vote total, which remains the highest percentage of the electoral vote won by any candidate since 1820.
When did Grover Cleveland die?
He died in 1908. The Presidential biographies on WhiteHouse.gov are from “The Presidents of the United States of America,” by Frank Freidel and Hugh Sidey. Copyright 2006 by the White House Historical Association. Learn more about Grover Cleveland’s spouse, Frances Folsom Cleveland.
What did Cleveland wish to eat?
“I must go to dinner,” he wrote a friend, “but I wish it was to eat a pickled herring a Swiss cheese and a chop at Louis’ instead of the French stuff I shall find.”.
What did Cleveland do when the railroad strikers in Chicago violated an injunction?
When railroad strikers in Chicago violated an injunction, Cleveland sent Federal troops to enforce it. “If it takes the entire army and navy of the United States to deliver a post card in Chicago,” he thundered, “that card will be delivered.”
How did Cleveland anger the railroads?
He angered the railroads by ordering an investigation of western lands they held by Government grant. He forced them to return 81,000,000 acres.
What did Cleveland call Congress to reduce?
In December 1887 he called on Congress to reduce high protective tariffs. Told that he had given Republicans an effective issue for the campaign of 1888, he retorted, “What is the use of being elected or re-elected unless you stand for something?” But Cleveland was defeated in 1888; although he won a larger popular majority than the Republican candidate Benjamin Harrison, he received fewer electoral votes.
What was the impact of Cleveland's election in 1892?
Elected again in 1892, Cleveland faced an acute depression. He dealt directly with the Treasury crisis rather than with business failures, farm mortgage foreclosures, and unemployment. He obtained repeal of the mildly inflationary Sherman Silver Purchase Act and, with the aid of Wall Street, maintained the Treasury’s gold reserve.
What was Cleveland's blunt treatment of the railroad strikers?
Cleveland’s blunt treatment of the railroad strikers stirred the pride of many Americans. So did the vigorous way in which he forced Great Britain to accept arbitration of a disputed boundary in Venezuela. But his policies during the depression were generally unpopular. His party deserted him and nominated William Jennings Bryan in 1896.
What was Grover Cleveland's career?
Early Career. Sheriff, Mayor and Governor. First Term in the White House: 1885-89. Second Term in the White House: 1893-97. Final Years. PHOTO GALLERIES. Grover Cleveland (1837-1908), who served as the 22nd and 24th U.S. president, was known as a political reformer. He is the only president to date who served two nonconsecutive terms, ...
How did Cleveland die?
He refused overtures from his party to run again for the presidency in 1904. His health began to fail rapidly at the end of 1907 and he died of a heart attack at the age of 71 on June 24, 1908. According to two of Cleveland’s biographers, his last words were, “I have tried so hard to do right.”
Why did Cleveland win the election?
Cleveland won the election, in part because voters had changed their minds about high tariffs and also because Tammany Hall decided to throw its support behind him. Cleveland’s second term, however, opened with the worst financial crisis in the country’s history.
How many vetoes did Cleveland have?
Did you know? Grover Cleveland vetoed twice as many congressional bills as all 21 of the presidents who preceded him combined--414 vetoes in his first term.
Why was Cleveland unpopular?
He also became unpopular with organized labor when he used federal troops to crush the Pullman railroad strike in 1894. Cleveland was an honest and hard-working president but he is criticized for being unimaginative and having no overarching vision for American society.
What did Cleveland think of Native Americans?
On the other hand, he did not support equality for African Americans or voting rights for women, and he thought Native Americans should assimilate into mainstream society as quickly as possible rather than preserve their own cultures. He also became unpopular with organized labor when he used federal troops to crush the Pullman railroad strike in 1894.
Why did Cleveland leave school?
Cleveland left school following his father’s death and started working in order to help support his family. Unable to afford a college education, he worked as a teacher in a school for the blind in New York City and then as a clerk in a law firm in Buffalo, New York.
What did Grover Cleveland do during his tenure?
During his tenure, which was from 1883 to 1885, Cleveland helped pass a host of reforms that resulted in New York’s municipal governments functioning better and more efficiently. Grover Cleveland facts and achievements.
Who is Grover Cleveland?
Grover Cleveland achievements. Grover Cleveland, a two non-consecutive term President of the United States of America, was a New York-born lawyer who holds the record of being the first Democrat to occupy the White House after the American Civil War.
Why did Cleveland veto the street cleaning bill?
As mayor, he vetoed the street-cleaning bill because the Common Council had selected the highest bidder for the job. He considered this the “most bare-faced and shameless” act he had ever seen.
How much land did President Cleveland get back?
This directive of his incurred the displeasure of several railroad investors. Regardless, the president was able to get back about 81,000,000 acres of land.
What was Cleveland's role in the economic crisis?
Cleveland waged war against political corruption and the patronage system.
What was Cleveland's second term?
Cleveland’s second term in the White House was characterized by him trying to deal with the Panic of 1893. He also had to contend with the Silverates, who opposed scrapping the coinage provisions in the Sherman Silver Purchase Act. In the end, he was able to get the repeal across the line with a 48 to 37 votes.
Where is Grover Cleveland buried?
On June 24, 1907, Grover Cleveland suffered a heart attack and passed away at the age of 71. He was buried at Princeton Cemetery of the Nassau Presbyterian Church.
What did Cleveland do as president?
As president, Cleveland continued to act in the same negative capacity that had marked his tenures as mayor and governor. He nullified fraudulent grants to some 80 million acres (30 million hectares) of Western public lands and vetoed hundreds of pension bills that would have sent federal funds to undeserving Civil War veterans. Once again, Cleveland’s rejection of wasteful and corrupt measures endeared the president to citizens who admired his honesty and courage. He also received credit for two of the more significant measures enacted by the federal government in the 1880s: the Interstate Commerce Act (1887), which established the Interstate Commerce Commission, the first regulatory agency in the United States, and the Dawes General Allotment Act (1887), which redistributed Native American reservation land to individual tribe members.
Why did Grover Cleveland abandon school?
The death of Grover Cleveland’s father in 1853 forced him to abandon school in order to support his mother and sisters. After clerking in a law firm in Buffalo, New York, he was admitted to the bar in 1859 and soon entered politics as a member of the Democratic Party.
How many votes did Cleveland get?
In 1882, without the support of the Tammany Hall Democratic machine in New York City, Cleveland received his party’s nomination for governor, and he went on to crush his Republican opponent by more than 200,000 votes.
Who was Grover Cleveland married to?
Grover Cleveland. Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. In 1886 Cleveland, a lifelong bachelor, married Frances Folsom, the daughter of his former law partner. Frances Cleveland, 27 years younger than her husband, proved to be a very popular first lady.
Did Cleveland win the Democratic nomination?
As a result, Cleveland won the Democratic nomination with ease. During the campaign, Cleveland’s image as the clean alternative to the supposedly sullied Blaine suffered serious damage when Republicans charged that the Democratic candidate had fathered a child out of wedlock some 10 years earlier.
What did Cleveland say to Congress?
In a message to Congress, Cleveland asserts that labor is a vital element of national prosperity and should be a concern of the federal government. He suggests the creation of a government committee to resolve disputes between labor and capital, making him the first President to do so.
What is the growth on the roof of Cleveland's mouth?
A malignant growth is detected on the roof of Cleveland's mouth.
How many terms did Cleveland serve?
Cleveland is inaugurated, becoming the only President to serve two nonconsecutive terms.
What was the central issue in the 1888 campaign?
The central issue in the 1888 campaign was the tariff . Benjamin Harrison advocated the Republican position in support of a high protectionist tariff, while Cleveland pushed for tariff reform . Poor campaigning dashed Cleveland's hopes of educating the public on the importance of tariff reform .
Why did Cleveland veto the Texas Seed Bill?
Cleveland vetoes Texas Seed Bill. Cleveland vetoes the Texas Seed Bill, which was designed to provide relief to drought-stricken farmers. Cleveland believes the bill oversteps the powers of the federal government.
Which states did Cleveland sign?
Cleveland signs a bill that turns the territories of North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Washington into states.
Who was the first president to sign the General Allotment Act?
On February 8, 1887, President Grover Cleveland signed the General Allotment Act into law. The law, commonly known as the Dawes Act after Senator Henry L. Dawes of Massachusetts who proposed it, divided tribal lands of Native Americans into individual allotments and encouraged the assimilation of Native Americans into American society.
What did Cleveland do to the executive branch?
Although not a great President, Cleveland almost single-handedly restored and strengthened the power and autonomy of the executive branch. Notable in this regard was his use of executive privilege in refusing to hand over department files to Congress in the fight over presidential appointments.
How did Cleveland help the Democrats?
Cleveland did help to create a Solid South for the Democrats by encouraging former Confederates to believe they had a friend in the White House; his return of captured Confederate battle flags and his decision to go fishing on Memorial Day—a Civil War holiday— aided in this regard.
Was Cleveland racially intolerant?
Regarding social policy, Cleveland comes across as much more racially intolerant, and certainly when compared to Presidents such as Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and Franklin Roosevelt. In the final analysis, Cleveland thought more in terms of command than leadership.
What did Cleveland do when he was president?
When Cleveland was president, he received a number of requests from Civil War veterans for pensions. Cleveland took the time to read through each request, vetoing any that he felt were fraudulent or lacking in merit. He also vetoed a bill that would allow disabled veterans to receive benefits no matter what caused their disability.
Who was Grover Cleveland's father?
Grover Cleveland's Nomadic Youth. Grover Cleveland grew up in New York. His father, Richard Falley Cleveland, was a Presbyterian minister who moved his family many times when he was transferred to new churches. He died when his son was only sixteen, leading Cleveland to leave school to help his family.
What was the economic issue during the Cleveland presidency?
Another economic issue that occurred during Cleveland's presidency was the determination of how U.S. currency should be backed.
How many children did Cleveland have?
When Cleveland was forty-nine, he married Frances Folsom at the White House and became the only president to do so. They had five children together. Their daughter, Esther, was the only president's child to be born in the White House.
How many terms did Cleveland serve?
Cleveland Served Two Non-Consecutive Terms. Cleveland ran for reelection in 1888, but the Tammany Hall group from New York City caused him to lose the presidency. When he ran again in 1892, they tried to keep him from winning again, but he managed to win by just ten electoral votes.
What did Cleveland do after his second term?
After Cleveland's second term, he retired from active political life. He became a member of the board of trustees of Princeton University and continued to campaign for various Democrats. He also wrote for the Saturday Evening Post. On June 24, 1908, Cleveland died of heart failure.
What happened to the economy in 1893?
Soon after Cleveland became president for the second time, the Panic of 1893 occurred. This economic depression resulted in millions of unemployed Americans. Riots occurred and many turned to the government for help. Cleveland agreed with many others that the government's role was not to help people harmed by the natural lows of the economy.
When was Cleveland elected?
He was first elected in 1884, coming off a successful stint as Governor of New York. Then in 1888, thanks to a shady election and controversy over tariffs, Cleveland lost reelection to Benjamin Harrison. By all accounts, Cleveland really thought he was done with government after that.
Did Cleveland speak on the tariff issue?
But when the tariff issue became hot again one year before the 1892 election, Cleveland was invited to speak about it, and about the free coinage of silver, at a men’s club. While he declined the invitation, he did send a letter outlining his views that managed to take a complex issue and make it understandable to the average voter. And with that, he was back in the running for the Presidency.

Elected Sheriff of Erie County, New York
34th Mayor of Buffalo
- After his Sheriff days, Cleveland contested and won a mayoral election against Milton C. Beebe. He was elected with 15,120 votes against 11,528 votes secured by Milton. Cleveland was sworn into office on January 2, 1882 as the 34th Mayor of Buffalo. As mayor, he vetoed the street-cleaning bill because the Common Council had selected the highest bidder for the job. He consi…
Governor of New York
- Cleveland defeated Republican Charles J. Folger to become the 28th governor of New York. He won by a margin of about 200,000 votes. As New York governor, he fought against political corruption among state officials and the elites. Owing to his anti-corruption campaign and a plethora of vetoes, he even came into confrontations with Tammany Hall and its leader John Kel…
Elected 22nd President of The United States
- On July 7, 1884, the Democratic National Convention met in Chicago and nominated Grover Cleveland for President. With Thomas A. Hendricks as his running mate, Grover Cleveland went on to defeat Republican candidate James G. Blaine (former Speaker of the House) in the 1884 presidential election. Some factions from the Republican Party, including the “Mugwumps” and t…
Waged War Against Political Corruption and The Patronage System
- Cleveland decided to keep well-performing Republicans in their federal jobs. He also promised not to appoint anyone based on his/her party affiliation. Additionally, he tried to reduce the somewhat bloated civil service, thereby saving a lot of tax payers’ dollars. Basically, majority of his decisions and reforms in the civil service were guided by the principle of merit. For example, he vehementl…
Helped Secure The Return of 81,000,000 Acres of Land
- President Cleveland tasked his Secretary of the Interior Lucius Q.C. Lamar to ensure that western lands under government grant be returned to the federal government. This directive of his incurred the displeasure of several railroad investors. Regardless, the president was able to get back about 81,000,000 acres of land.
Nominated Four Justices to The U.S. Supreme Court
- His first term saw the nomination of two justices to the U.S. Supreme Court. The men were Lucius Q. C. Lamar, a former Secretary of the Interior, and Melville Fuller. Both were confirmed by the Senate with 32 to 28 and 41 to 20 respectively. In addition to the Supreme Court Justices, President Cleveland nominated a total of 41 federal court judges. His second term in office saw …
24th President of The United States
- After his defeat in 1888 by Republican Benjamin Harrison(23rd President of the U.S.), Cleveland and his family moved to New York City. Cleveland worked in a law firm for the majority of the four years that he was not in Washington. Although he was met by strong opposition from David B. Hill, Cleveland won the Democratic Party nomination and went on to defeat incumbent Presiden…
Halted The Depletion of Gold Reserve in The Treasury
- Cleveland’s second term in the White House was characterized by him trying to deal with the Panic of 1893. He also had to contend with the Silverates, who opposed scrapping the coinage provisions in the Sherman Silver Purchase Act. In the end, he was able to get the repeal across the line with a 48 to 37 votes. The repeal helped to prevent the nation’s gold reserves from depl…
Other Notable Accomplishments of President Grover Cleveland
- In 1887, President Grover Cleveland signed an act that gave birth to the Interstate Commerce Commission. The commission, which came to be as a result of the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887, was est...
- Cleveland also picked up from where his predecessor Chester A. Arthur left by investing a lot in the nation’s Navy. He worked brilliantly well with Secretary of the Navy William C. Whitney…
- In 1887, President Grover Cleveland signed an act that gave birth to the Interstate Commerce Commission. The commission, which came to be as a result of the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887, was est...
- Cleveland also picked up from where his predecessor Chester A. Arthur left by investing a lot in the nation’s Navy. He worked brilliantly well with Secretary of the Navy William C. Whitney. Togethe...
- After Frederick Douglassresigned from his post as recorder of deeds in the nation’s capital, President Cleveland picked an African American by the name of James Campbell Matthews to fill the vacant...
- Cleveland also pushed for the Dawes General Allotment Act of 1887 which facilitated the redi…